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Legislative Council of Hong Kong

The Legislative Council of Hong Kong is made up of 70 members who debate and pass bills. Half of the Legco members are directly elected by voters in geographical constituencies and the remaining 35 members are returned by 29 functional constituencies. The next elections will be held in September 2020.

last updated:

9 September, 2024

The vote count begins in the 2023 District Council Ordinary Election at Queen’s College, Causeway Bay, in December. Photo: Dickson Lee

Hong Kong politics

Editorial | Defeat of ‘smart ballot boxes’ move a win for Hong Kong legislative process

System that sounds alert on voting papers not properly marked fails to impress Hong Kong lawmakers who stand by secret ballots.

24 Dec 2024 - 7:45AM

Hong Kong transport

Hong Kong may drop plan to use hydrogen-powered light rail trains: lawmakers

22 Dec 2024 - 7:23PM

Hong Kong society

Owners of Hong Kong properties with illegal additions cannot ‘buy their way out’

18 Dec 2024 - 6:33PM

Hong Kong politics

Hong Kong shelves plan to use ‘smart ballot boxes’ for elections

Legco welcomes government’s decision to heed concerns raised by lawmakers that machines would undermine privacy and vote secrecy.

18 Dec 2024 - 9:27PM

Visitors at Hong Kong’s Electoral Information Centre during its open day in September this year. Photo: Sam Tsang

Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong lawmakers spent 2 hours on average on each funding plan discussed

Finance Committee chairman says legislators have taken ‘cautious’ approach to scrutinising proposals.

17 Dec 2024 - 7:16PM

Hong Kong transport

Hong Kong taxi drivers to face ban for failing to turn on surveillance cameras

Authorities earlier proposed installing internal surveillance cameras and dashcams in cabs to help boost taxi industry’s service quality.

13 Dec 2024 - 8:48PM

Hong Kong courts

Letters | Call to overturn Hong Kong court ruling on gay rights is frivolous

Readers discuss a lawmaker’s disregard for the principle of judicial independence, humane treatment of monkeys in a local zoo, and Joe Biden pardoning his son Hunter.

13 Dec 2024 - 11:30AM

The Court of Final Appeal in Hong Kong. Hong Kong’s top court ruled on November 26 to affirm housing and inheritance entitlements for same-sex couples, siding against the government in favour of LGBTQ rights protection. Photo: AFP

Hong Kong politics

Hong Kong’s new culture minister vows to turn commercial spaces into arts venues

Rosanna Law pledges to examine restrictions related to fire safety, building structure and land use preventing factory spaces from being used for performances.

9 Dec 2024 - 9:04PM

Hong Kong economy

Hongkongers’ travel needs key in developing ride-hailing regulations: minister

New transport chief Mable Chan also says the city’s taxi licensing system has hampered innovation efforts.

8 Dec 2024 - 12:29AM

Hong Kong transport

Hong Kong transport chief faces first tough questions over funding rail projects

Mable Chan non-committal over potentially issuing bonds to fund six projects forecast to cost HK$300 billion.

6 Dec 2024 - 4:44PM

The government has been pushing ahead with a number of rail projects linked to new town developments. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Hongkongers could face eligibility tests for dental treatment at public clinics

Authorities will also offer free check-ups for preschoolers and affordable services for adolescents.

6 Dec 2024 - 9:38PMvideocam

An elderly woman of Kwai Tsing is getting her teeth cleaned at a dental truck in Lai King. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Education in Hong Kong

‘Dragon baby’ boom, talent influx help Hong Kong schools add 10 Form One classes

But schools sector expects the number of Form One classes is at ‘final peak’ and that the student population will decline in coming years.

5 Dec 2024 - 11:51PM

Hong Kong transport

Hong Kong set to ease electric vehicle rules to allow use of mobiles for parking

Government plans to amend law to also allow vehicles to display non-driving-related information to motorists.

4 Dec 2024 - 10:38PMvideocam

Hong Kong society

Hong Kong to consider reducing traffic accident fund payouts to curb abuse

Welfare minister Chris Sun says authorities to consider cutting number of compensated sick leave or hospital days claimable under fund.

4 Dec 2024 - 10:27PM

The fund provides financial assistance to victims of road traffic accidents or their surviving dependants. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Hong Kong housing

Landlords warned over evictions as Hong Kong subdivided-flat consultation starts

Government proposes new laws that only allow registered subdivided flats that meet certain criteria to remain on the rental market.

3 Dec 2024 - 2:45AMvideocam

Subdivided flats will be required to have a minimum size of 86 sq ft under proposed regulations. Photo: Eugene Lee

Banking & finance

Hong Kong government invests in 80 start-ups as war chest swells

Flush with proceeds from the city’s successful investment-migration scheme, HKIC puts money in local, mainland and overseas start-ups.

2 Dec 2024 - 6:30PM

Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong doubles deficit forecast to HK$100 billion for 2024-25

Finance chief says soft property market has hit government coffers hard, with income ‘far lower than expected’.

2 Dec 2024 - 10:40PM

Hong Kong politics

Hong Kong’s Democratic Party re-elects chairman Lo Kin-hei

‘Too early’ to say whether opposition party will run in next year’s Legislative Council election, according to Lo.

1 Dec 2024 - 10:55PMvideocam

Lo Kin-hei (second from right) meets the press after his re-election. Photo: Emily Hung

Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong police investigate emails containing fake illicit images of lawmakers

Emails claim recipients have ‘committed serious misconduct’ and were sent by private investigator who ‘only wants money, not trouble’.

26 Nov 2024 - 9:24PM

Hong Kong politics

Beijing official’s speech signals Hong Kong has never been ‘independent’: experts

Beijing official Zhang Yong recently said ‘Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong’ guiding principle implies oversight by central authorities.

26 Nov 2024 - 8:30AM

Hong Kong courts

No remote hearings for national security, criminal trials under Hong Kong bill

Courts (Remote Hearing) Bill, gazetted by the government on Friday, will have first reading early next month.

22 Nov 2024 - 7:30PM

The judiciary says remote hearings will enable the courts to “tackle unforeseen and complicated situations” such as pandemics. Photo: Warton Li

Hong Kong transport

Hong Kong franchised bus firms feel heat over proposed fare increases

Nearly 20 lawmakers question bus firms’ proposed increases of 6.5 to 9.5 per cent in a two-hour transport panel meeting.

22 Nov 2024 - 6:08PM

KMB and Citybus have applied to increase fares by 6.5 and 9.5 percent, respectively. Photo: Jelly Tse

Hong Kong national security law

Beijing voices support for jailing of 45 opposition activists

Central government’s liaison office also condemns US and other countries for ‘attacks’ against judicial system.

22 Nov 2024 - 12:26AMvideocam

Jimmy Lai trial

Lai says no ‘serious violence’ at storming of Hong Kong Legco – as it happened

Former media boss also rejects claims from ex-Apple Daily staff over grip on editorial direction, creation of sanctions list targeting Hongkongers.

29 Nov 2024 - 1:02AM

Hong Kong politics

How did judges decide prison sentences handed down in Hong Kong 47 trial?

Sentences ranging from four years and two months to 10 years for conspiracy to commit subversion were proportionate with severity of crime, experts say.

21 Nov 2024 - 8:30AMvideocam

Jailed opposition activists are taken from West Kowloon Court in a prison vehicle to start their sentences. Photo: Sam Tsang

Hong Kong courts

Editorial | Subversion sentences close difficult chapter as Hong Kong rule of law prevails

Justice neither delayed nor denied in Hong Kong’s longest-running national security case that saw jail terms for 45 opposition figures.

21 Nov 2024 - 6:15AM

Elsa Wu, foster mother of defendant Hendrick Lui, holds up a banner reading “The righteous shall live; the wicked shall perish”, ahead of the sentencing hearing. Photo: Sam Tsang

Hong Kong transport

Hong Kong move to make helmets mandatory for cyclists postponed to 2025

More time needed to study age requirements and practices in other jurisdictions, government says.

21 Nov 2024 - 12:34AM

Hong Kong courts

45 Hong Kong activists jailed for 4 to 10 years over plot to topple government

Former legal scholar and ‘mastermind’ Benny Tai receives 10-year prison term.

20 Nov 2024 - 12:18AMvideocam

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